Liquid crystalline cyclohexylcyclohexanes

Abstract

Compounds of the formula (I) ##STR1## wherein X is --R, --OR or --O--CO--R and R is alkyl of 1-12 C-atoms, are useful as liquid crystals or as solvents for measuring n.m.r., u.v. or visible spectra in anisotropic media.

What we claim is: 
     
       1. A trans-trans-cyclohexylcyclohexane of the formula ##STR16## wherein X is --R, --OR or --O--CO--R and R is straight-chain alkyl of 1-12 C-atoms or alkyl of 1-12 carbon atoms containing only one chain branch, that branching being on the connecting carbon atom or one of the next two carbon atoms. 
     
     
       2. The cyclohexylcyclohexane of claim 1, wherein R is a straight-chain alkyl. 
     
     
       3. The cyclohexylcyclohexane of claim 1, wherein R is alkyl of 1-10 C-atoms. 
     
     
       4. The cyclohexylcyclohexane of claim 1, wherein R is alkyl with 1-8 C-atoms. 
     
     
       5. The cyclohexylcyclohexane of claim 1, wherein X is R. 
     
     
       6. Trans-trans-4-methylcyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile, trans-trans-4-ethylcyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile,   trans-trans-4-n-propylcyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile,   trans-trans-4-n-butylcyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile,   trans-trans-4-n-pentylcyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile,   trans-trans-4-n-hexylcyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile,   trans-trans-4-n-heptylcyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile,   trans-trans-4-n-octylcyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile,   trans-trans-4-n-nonylcyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile, and   trans-trans-4-n-decylyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile, compounds of claim 5.   
     
     
       7. Trans-trans-4-isopropylcyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile, trans-trans-4-(1-methylpropyl)-cyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile,   trans-trans-4-(2-methylpropyl)-cyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile,   trans-trans-4-(1-methylbutyl)-cyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile,   trans-trans-4-(2-methylbutyl)-cyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile,   trans-trans-4-(3-methylbutyl)-cyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile,   trans-trans-4-(1-methylpentyl)-cyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile,   trans-trans-4-(2-methylpentyl)-cyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile,   trans-trans-4-(1-methylhexyl)-cyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile,   trans-trans-4-(2-ethylpentyl)-cyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile,   trans-trans-4-(1-methylheptyl)-cyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile, and   trans-trans-4-(2-ethylhexyl)-cyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile, compounds of claim 5.   
     
     
       8. The cyclohexylcyclohexane of claim 1 wherein X is --OR. 
     
     
       9. Trans-trans-4-methoxycyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile, trans-trans-4-ethoxycyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile,   trans-trans-4-n-propyloxycyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile,   trans-trans-4-n-butyloxycyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile,   trans-trans-4-pentyloxycyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile,   trans-trans-4-n-hexyloxycyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile,   trans-trans-4-n-heptyloxycyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile,   trans-trans-4-n-octyloxycyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile,   trans-trans-4-n-nonyloxycyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile,   trans-trans-4-n-decyloxycyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile,   trans-trans-4-n-undecyloxycyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile, and   trans-trans-4-n-dodecyloxycyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile, compounds of claim 8.   
     
     
       10. Trans-trans-4-isopropyloxy-cyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile, trans-trans-4-(1-methylpropyloxy)-cyclohexylcyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile,   trans-trans-4-(1-methylbutyloxy)-cyclohexylcyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile,   trans-trans-4-(2-methylbutyloxy)-cyclohexylcyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile,   trans-trans-4-(1-methylpentyloxy)-cyclohexylcyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile,   trans-trans-4-(2-methylpentyloxy)-cyclohexylcyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile,   trans-trans-4-(3-methylpentyloxy)-cyclohexylcyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile,   trans-trans-4-(1-methylhexyloxy)-cyclohexylcyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile,   trans-trans-4-(2-ethylpentyloxy)-cyclohexylcyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile,   trans-trans-4-(1-methylheptyloxy)-cyclohexylcyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile, and   trans-trans-4-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-cyclohexylcyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile, compounds of claim 8.   
     
     
       11. The cyclohexylcyclohexane of claim 1 wherein X is --O--CO--R. 
     
     
       12. Trans-trans-4-acetoxycyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile, trans-trans-4-propionyloxycyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile,   trans-trans-4-isobutyryloxycyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile,   trans-trans-4-n-butyryloxycyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile,   trans-trans-4-n-pentanoyloxycyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile,   trans-trans-4-α-methylpropionyloxycyclohexylcyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile,   trans-trans-4-n -hexanoyloxycyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile,   trans-trans-4-n-heptanoyloxycyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile,   trans-trans-4-n-octanoyloxycyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile,   trans-trans-4-n-nonanoyloxycyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile, and   trans-trans-4-n-decanoyloxycyclohexyl-cyclohexane-4'-carbonitrile, compounds of claim 11.   
     
     
       13. A liquid crystalline dielectric composition comprising at least 2 liquid crystalline components, wherein at least one component is a compound of claim 1. 
     
     
       14. In a liquid crystal display element comprising a liquid crystalline dielectric composition, the improvement wherein the liquid crystalline dielectric composition comprises a compound of claim 1.